Manitoba musicians have landed 12 nominations for the 44th annual Juno Awards. The nominees were announced Tuesday ahead of this year’s music industry festivities in Hamilton, Ontario.

Manitobans making the shortlist are Brandon-based Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq with two nominations for alternative album of the year and aboriginal album of the year for Animism.

Del Barber is represented for roots traditional album of the year in the group category for his acclaimed release, Prairiegraphy. Barber was a double winner at the Western Canadian Music Awards in October for his work on the album, including the roots solo and songwriter of the year categories.

WINNIPEG — Screaming teens packed St. Vital Centre on Saturday for the chance to get up close with some of Canada’s Juno stars.

Juno Fanfare brought out hundreds of music fans who lined up for hours as part of a meet and greet. Brett Kissel, Dean Brody, Gord Bamford, Kardinal Offishall, The Trews, and Tegan and Sara were some of the big names on hand signing autographs and posing for photographs.

The three-hour event is the most popular one of Juno Week and was also free of charge. Fans exchanged tickets for wristbands at the mall earlier this week in order to secure their spot in line.

WINNIPEG — The Canadian Museum for Human Rights doesn’t officially open until September, but Friday night was the first big event to be hosted inside Winnipeg’s newest landmark.

The 2014 Juno Awards Welcome Reception was a who’s who affair mixed with nominees, Canadian music industry executives, politicians and the city’s elite. The two-hour invite-only event was a kickoff to the weekend and a lead-up to Sunday’s awards show at MTS Centre.

Musicians made their way in down a green carpet to the flash bulbs of cameras from both local and national media outlets assembled to capture the lavish soiree.

Once inside, CMHR president and CEO, Stuart Murray, greeted the crowd in the Garden of Contemplation — a naturally-lit gathering area surrounded by stone with a view that stretches up the museum’s Tower of Hope.